What is an example of a host employer?

• A. Typically an electric utility
• B. A construction contractor
• C. A manufacturing plant
• D. A school district

Answer: (A)

The key point is who owns and controls the work site and is responsible for overall safety there. In utility work, the host employer is the organization that owns the facility or infrastructure, runs the site, and sets safety rules, training, access control, and work-permit processes. The electric utility fits this role because it owns the electric lines, substations, and equipment and coordinates safety oversight for any contractors working on its system. It provides orientation, safety programs, and the framework that contractor workers must follow while on site.

A construction contractor is the party hired to perform the work, not the host; they operate under the host's safety program rather than own and control the site. A manufacturing plant or a school district may host workers in different contexts, but for utility projects, the electric utility is the entity that typically serves as the host employer.